Golf practicing machine



INVENTOR LEDERER ALBRECH Y 5mm@ .Simms ATTORNEYS Application January 7,

The present invention relates generally toa golfpracf tice machine or device, and more specifically to a' machine which can reproduce in one location a simulation oty any possible relation between player and ball found in actual play encountered in a game of golf on a golf course.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a device adapted for use either indoors or outdoors and which can be portable or constructed as 'a permanent installation. k

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which can reproduce any lie or ground condition desired.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice device wherein the angleof the lie can be in any relation to the position ofthe player, either on the same level, lower level, or higher level.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice device wherein'the level ofthe lie of the ball with respect to the player can be selectively altered, and wherein the angular disposition of the player with respect to the ball can be selectively varied in any desired plane or any Yconceivable compound angle in three dimensions.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice device wherein exactly the same relation can be reproduced for the ground upon which the player stands to make his shot, in relation to the lie, as the relation of the lie to the player as described hereinbefore.

A still further object of the present invention isz to provide a golf practice device susceptible of adjustment for different positions of the player withrespect to the lie, and wherein the position of the player with respect to the lie, and of the lie with respect to the player, are independently adjustable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice device of the nature described, wherein the distance between the player and the ball can be selectively varied.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, separate stands or platforms are provided respectively for the player and a ball, producing a simulated lie therefor, and which relative positions are separately universally adjustable so as to be able to produce an indefinitely variable number of simulated lies.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan and Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

The device basically consists of a players stand view of the device of Figure 1;

' identical in construction,

2,879,996 *j fatented .Maru 31,

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and a ball stand 12. These two major portions can be but not necessarily in size orA detailed construction. The players stand 10 consists? of a base 14 and a platform 16, and the ball stand 12- consists of a similar base 18 and platform 20. The baseJ 14 has two spaced tubes 22 which are secured therein'v in any desired manner. A similar pair of spaced tubes? 24 are xed in the base 1s of banv stand 12. Rods er; tubes 26 and 2S have their ends respectively inserted:

in the tubes 22 and 24. Pins or the like 30 secure those ends of rods 26 and 28 which are inserted in tubesl 22. The ends ofthe rods which are inserted in tubes 24 are slidably mounted or held therein, and set screw devices- 32 mounted on top of base 18 are adapted for fixing; the position of the rods in the tubes 24. ByV means of? this construction, the relative distance between the play# ers stand 10 and ball stand 12 can vbe adjusted. By loosening the set screws 32, the two stands can be moved with respect to one another and it is contemplated that the stands can be pulled apart any distance up to, for example, twelve inches. Upon closing the set screws thev position becomes fixed.

The pins 30 can be replaced by set screws, and asv shown at 32, or a series of several spaced holes couldl be provided for the pins, thus making it possible for' the rods 26 to slide in base. Such a construction would increase the maxim'unrf space adjustable between the two bases.

' Extending vertically from the bases 14 and 18 are' internally screw threaded tubes 34 and 36 which are slotted or split as indicated at 38 in their upper portions. Clamping screws 40 and 42 are arranged at'the" top of tubes 34 and 36, and are adjustable to cooperate" with the tubes which are slit at this position. Externally threaded bolts 44 and 46 are adjustably mounted in' thetubes 34 and 36. The split threaded tubes 34 and 36 can be clamped tight to bolts 44 and 46 in anydesired position of height of the bolts. The splits or slots, extending over a partiai length of the tubes, on one side, permit this tightening by means of clamp screws 40 and 42.

Externally threaded bolts 44 and 46 carry at their upper ends balls as shown at 48 and which together with sockets 50, form ball and socket joints. The platforms 16 and 20 are secured to and carried by thel socket` members 50. This ball and socket mounting of the platforms permits the angular disposition of the plat# forms to be universally varied as desired, and as indicated in broken lines as also by the arrows in brokenlines in Figure 3. Clamp screws 52 and 54 permit clamping of the platforms at any given angle by a clamping-l action on the balls 48. l

The platforms tions, such as including a platform base 56 with a covering 58 in the nature of a layer of resilient material such as foam rubber. This could, of course, be covered with any desired material` The platform 20 is shown as being slightly different in construction. This includes a base portion 60 over which a foam rubber layer 62 is placed, which is in turn covered by a hard llexible surface 64 on top of which is a layer 66 of simulated grass or the like. Manifestly, the constructions of the platforms can be varied in any desired manner.

The heights of the respective platforms 16 and 20 can be varied merely by turning or rotating the bolts 44 and 46 into or out of the tubes 34 and 38 upon release of the tension of clamps 40 and 42. When the desired respective elevations have been established, then these can be fixed by tightening the clamp screws 40 and 42.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that each of the platforms or stands namely, 10 and 12, can be individually universally adjusted angularly, and the respective heights of the stands 10 and 12 can be adbothbases, instead of only oneI 16 and 20 can have different construcv of any other nature or type such as electrical, hydraulic, air, Vsteam or any combination of these and the control can be manual, or remote control, or a combination of both manual and power.

`In order to permit independent use of either of the stands, the adjustable connection afforded by the rods 26 and 28, can be removable as shown in the drawings. 'I'he device can be made in various sizes and in varying degrees of refinement 1n relation to nish, luxury of control andl type of installation. Manifestly, the best means for a particular size and degree of refinement will be used for a given design or installation. The installa tions can be either portable or fixed.

i From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a device which can reproduce in one spot any possible simulated relation between player and ball, that is, any location or position that could be encountered in an actual game of golf on a golf course and can be used anywhere either indoors or outdoors. The device can produce any lie or ground position desired and the angle of the lie can be in any relation to the position of the player; on the same level, lower level or higher level. In any given level, a slope can be arranged ata simple angle away from the player, toward the right or left and any conceivably cornpound angle in three dimensions. Exactly the same relation can be reproduced for the ground, upon which the player stands to make his shot, in the relation of the lie to the player hereinbefore described. The positions of the lie and of the player are independently adjustable.

Manifestly variations and changes of design and construction are possible while vstill obtaining the desired result, and without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in, and limited solely by, the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a golf practice device of the type described, the combination of two horizontally spaced platforms adapted 2. A golf practice device as claimed in claim 1, and

tion thereof.

and said rods to x parts of said device in any adjusted posiwith said ball and socket, said bolts the respective 3. In a golf combination of two horizontally late a wide variety of golf playing conditions.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 including means positively locking both of said base support means in a xed position, once they have been adjusted with respect to one another.

5. In a golf practice device of the type described, the combination of two horizontally spaced platforms adapted References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 490,090 Watkins Ian. 17, 1893 609,751 Whippo Aug. 23, 1898 737,755 Marceau Aug. 26, 1902 1,419,636 MacDonald .Tune 13, 1922 2,128,046 Heil Aug. 23, 1938 2,695,175 Trapp Nov. 23, 1954 

